Latest U.S. Department of State News
Family seeks to sue Lebanon over dead father's captivity
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A Lebanese American man’s survivors, who filed an ambitious lawsuit last year alleging Lebanon’s security agency kidnapped and tortured him before he died in the U.S., hope to find an opening after the agency recently responded in an American court. Amer...
Blinken to meet with senior Russian as Ukraine tensions soar
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with his Russian counterpart in Switzerland this week as tensions between the U.S. and Russia escalate over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, the State Department said Tuesday. The State Department said Blinken...
N. Korea fires short-range missiles in 4th launch this month
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea Monday in its fourth weapons launch this month, South Korea’s military said, with the apparent goal of demonstrating its military might during paused diplomacy with the United States and pandemic border...
Ukraine hacks add to worries of cyber conflict with Russia
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Hackers on Friday temporarily shut down dozens of Ukrainian government websites, causing no major damage but adding to simmering tensions while Russia amasses troops on the Ukrainian border. Separately, in a rare gesture to the U.S. at a time of chilly relations, Russia said...
No progress seen after Russia-US talks over Ukraine tensions
GENEVA (AP) — The United States and Russia locked horns over Ukraine and other security issues Monday with no sign of progress from either side at highly anticipated strategic talks. Low expectations from both Washington and Moscow about the high-stakes session in Geneva appeared...
Russia, US hold working dinner to open Geneva talks
GENEVA (AP) — A top Russian diplomat predicted “difficult” talks with the United States this week after attending a working dinner with U.S. officials in Geneva on Sunday as part of the kickoff to a string of meetings in three European cities this week, with ties at a low over Russia’s...
US says Horn of Africa envoy stepping down 'in coming days'
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The U.S. State Department said Thursday its special envoy to the Horn of Africa will end his appointment “in the coming days” after a year marked by deadly crises in Ethiopia and Sudan. Envoy Jeffrey Feltman plans to step down shortly after his current...
China to appoint Horn of Africa envoy amid Ethiopia crisis
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — China’s foreign minister says his country will appoint a special envoy to the Horn of Africa region, where Ethiopia and Eritrea have been fighting forces from Ethiopia’s Tigray region and Somalia is in the grip of a political crisis caused by a long-delayed election. ...
US imposes sanctions against Bosnian Serb leader Dodik
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced sanctions Wednesday against Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, accusing him of “corrupt activities” that threaten to destabilize the region and undermine a U.S.-brokered peace accord from more than 25 years ago. The Treasury...
EXPLAINER: What's next after resignation of Sudan's PM?
CAIRO (AP) — Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's resignation has plunged the country’s already fragile democratic transition into further turmoil. Hamdok told the country in a national address Sunday that he was stepping down after he failed to build a political consensus...
